GOD'S ORCHESTRATION
We have experienced the orchestration of God's beautiful symphony of events in thousands of different situations, but we never cease to be amazed at his efficiency and expertise in each and every series of circumstances.
The situation in the current instance relates to my husband's diagnosis of cancer in multiple parts of his body, the miracles surrounding the diagnosis and the two operations, his speedy recovery from the surgeries, and then the events relating to our trip to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
We had anticipated staying at a particular hotel in Houston, but we took the recommendation of the patient advocate information and decided to stay at the MainStay Suites. That particular hotel proved to be the right one. It was relatively new, had a wonderful breakfast which is much more varied than other suite hotels provide. The staff was congenial, efficient and helpful.
Before leaving home my husband and I had talked about visiting Lakewood Church while in Houston because we had had a wonderful miracle experience at the church 19 years previously. Revisiting the same church was not a priority in your minds, just a passing thought.
When we arrived at the MainStay Suites hotel we noticed a sign that said that anyone who wished to attend Lakewood Church could sign up for a shuttle. That seemed to be an accommodation that we had not expected from the hotel, which also provided shuttle service to MD Anderson medical buildings.
My husband inquired about the shuttle ride to the church and was told that we should be in the lobby at a certain time and a driver would take us to Lakewood Church. That seemed simple enough.
We showed up at the appointed time and the driver showed up a few minutes later. He engaged us in conversation during the ride to the church by inquiring about our satisfaction with the hotel, whether we enjoyed the free breakfasts and amenities, whether the staff was efficient, etc. We gave glowing reports to the driver and he seemed pleased. He told us that he, in fact, is the owner of the hotel and was glad to hear things suited us so well. My husband and I looked at each other and smiled, thrilled at God's orchestration of providing a driver for us who is the owner of the hotel.
The hotel owner, who was acting as shuttle driver, said his part of the ministry of the church is transportation. When he drove into the huge parking garage he began looking for a parking space, which is very often hard to find since the church normally has 16,000 attendees on Sunday morning. He drove to the front of the bottom layer of the parking garage, began looking for an open spot, and noticed that a spot at the very front of the bottom level was vacant. He remarked that it was the prime parking spot and he had never seen it vacant, especially that late in the morning. It was the first spot closest to the entrance to the church. He continued to remark about the miracle of it being vacant, and so we told him about the parking spot angel that we have and that we were not surprised at all about its availability.
We continued to tell him about God's angels having specific ministries for God's children. He was intrigued, but still amazed at the choice parking spot he had found.
We followed him to the huge sanctuary telling him about our visit to the church 19 years earlier where God confirmed to me through John Osteen's mouth that I had been healed of cancer. He again was intrigued and asked me if I wanted Dodie Osteen to pray for my husband. I told him sure.
He told us to follow him, which we willingly did. He led us through the long lines of people who were waiting to get into the huge auditorium, leading us to the bottom floor, telling the ushers that Dodie Osteen was going to pray for my husband. The head usher led us further through throngs of people, pointing out three chairs on the seventh row from the front. We took our seats and gathered our thoughts, amazed again at God's orchestration of getting us to the service in a car driven by the owner of the hotel who made it possible for us to have seats close to the front.
Joel Osteen opened the service, after which the worship team leaders led the people in worship music. Then he said that their prayer partners wanted to pray for anyone who needed healing in their bodies, healing of relationships or prayer for other needs. The head usher motioned for my husband to come up the aisle to the front, motioned for me to join my husband, and we stood there for only a few seconds.
The usher led us to a young woman who asked if my husband needed prayer for healing to which he answered, "Yes." Dodie Osteen came over to us, asked where we are from, told us that her husband had preached one time in our town, then asked if my husband wanted prayer for healing of cancer. Again he told her, "Yes." She began to pray for him, commanding that any remaining cancer would leave his body and then she prayed that God will give him supernatural strength during chemotherapy so that he would have no side effects from it. She had no way of knowing that that was a concern, the side effects of chemotherapy. We went back our seats with tears of joy in our eyes and smiles on our faces.
God's orchestration continues to amaze us. How He accomplishes what He does is a mystery to us; but we are like kids, we continue to say that our Dad can do anything.
Thank you God for your divine orchestration.
Thank you for providing the owner of the hotel to be our chauffeur.
Thank you for proving to the owner of the hotel that you care about small things like parking spots.
Thank you for the authority you gave Dodie to command any remaining cancer to leave my husband's body.
Thank you for the word of knowledge that you gave to Dodie about strength during chemotherapy.
Thank you for your surprises that we encounter every day that prove that you are the Loving Father who provides everything your children need.
Thank you for surprising us with your wonderful orchestrations.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
A BUNDLE OF JOY
A BUNDLE OF JOY
I've heard of small bundles of joy, meaning newborn little babies who come into our lives to bless us and bring joy. I've never heard of an adult bundle of joy. But my husband and I met one in Houston at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. The meeting was a chance encounter, but I told her that there are actually no chance encounters where God is concerned.
I was taking a long walk on the Sky Walk between buildings while my husband was in a series of tests, and a small vibrant woman who was pushing her walker remarked to me that I looked so pretty in my green blouse. I thanked her and continued my speedy walk.
Later, after my husband completed the first portion of his tests, the two of us went to one of the many hospitality rooms for cookies and coffee. We got refreshments from the hostess, then we sat in chairs by the door. We had also obtained a blanket in which my husband wrapped like a cocoon, because every health care facility sets the room temperatures low, low and lower. He was freezing.
Into the same hospitality room walked the same woman who had commented on my green blouse in another part of the medical complex a long way from this particular hospitality room. She took a seat in another sitting arrangement but quickly noticed me in my green blouse and again commented how pretty I looked.
We exchanged pleasantries about our favorite colors and then my husband joined in the conversation when we began to talk about grandchildren, one of our favorite subjects. It evidently was her favorite, also. We bragged on our grandchildren; she bragged on hers.
Suddenly we started talking about another of our favorite subjects, God. We shared testimonies. She had wonderful ones and we had wonderful ones. She talked freely in her conversations about God's miraculous events in her life and we filled in with the astounding testimonies of God's presence in our current situation, which was Steve's operation, the removal of the cancer, and the reason for the appointment at MD Anderson. It is the king of cancer treatment centers of the world, as proclaimed by Steve's surgeon.
The bundle of joy announced that she is a 25 year cancer survivor. I chimed in that I am a 19 year survivor. We had both been treated at MD Anderson. She began glowing as she related the events of her unfortunate ordeal which eventually had wonderful results. I shared my same miraculous results with her, sharing the miracles that God had performed in my life.
Soon she had to leave the hospitality room for her doctor's appointment for a checkup. We hugged and remarked together that there are no chance encounters, that we both knew that our meeting was arranged by Our Loving Father to enhance the faith that Steve and I already had relating to his tests, the findings and the treatments.
That particular day we needed to hear the testimonies of the bundle of joy to enhance our faith relating to our current situation. God arranged my wearing the green blouse that attracted her attention on the brief meeting in the Sky Walk. Then He led the three of us to the same hospitality room in the same building, of which there are many, many similar rooms in the medical complex. She took a seat near us before she noticed me sitting there in my green blouse that she had previously admired, after which the sharing of testimonies began. Her joy was contagious in the midst of serious events in the lives of all the people in the room, on the Sky Walk and in the huge medical complex.
She brought to mind the scripture that says, "The joy of the Lord is my strength." Steve and I left that hospitality room with stronger joy and stronger faith. I call it an infusion of faith and joy. The sharing of testimonies does that, infuses new faith and joy into us.
Steve completed the next tests with a great attitude after the infusion from the bundle of joy. Those chance encounters are like kisses from Our Loving Father. It amazes me how He arranges them, but I'll welcome them every time,.
I'm still thanking Him for delivering joy to us from an 80 year old Bundle of Joy. She's probably continuing her ministry of distributing joy to other people in her small Texas town and wherever she travels. She told me that she was a cheerleader in high school and college. She's a cheerleader for God now. Her current team always wins. I'm glad we're on the same team.
I've heard of small bundles of joy, meaning newborn little babies who come into our lives to bless us and bring joy. I've never heard of an adult bundle of joy. But my husband and I met one in Houston at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. The meeting was a chance encounter, but I told her that there are actually no chance encounters where God is concerned.
I was taking a long walk on the Sky Walk between buildings while my husband was in a series of tests, and a small vibrant woman who was pushing her walker remarked to me that I looked so pretty in my green blouse. I thanked her and continued my speedy walk.
Later, after my husband completed the first portion of his tests, the two of us went to one of the many hospitality rooms for cookies and coffee. We got refreshments from the hostess, then we sat in chairs by the door. We had also obtained a blanket in which my husband wrapped like a cocoon, because every health care facility sets the room temperatures low, low and lower. He was freezing.
Into the same hospitality room walked the same woman who had commented on my green blouse in another part of the medical complex a long way from this particular hospitality room. She took a seat in another sitting arrangement but quickly noticed me in my green blouse and again commented how pretty I looked.
We exchanged pleasantries about our favorite colors and then my husband joined in the conversation when we began to talk about grandchildren, one of our favorite subjects. It evidently was her favorite, also. We bragged on our grandchildren; she bragged on hers.
Suddenly we started talking about another of our favorite subjects, God. We shared testimonies. She had wonderful ones and we had wonderful ones. She talked freely in her conversations about God's miraculous events in her life and we filled in with the astounding testimonies of God's presence in our current situation, which was Steve's operation, the removal of the cancer, and the reason for the appointment at MD Anderson. It is the king of cancer treatment centers of the world, as proclaimed by Steve's surgeon.
The bundle of joy announced that she is a 25 year cancer survivor. I chimed in that I am a 19 year survivor. We had both been treated at MD Anderson. She began glowing as she related the events of her unfortunate ordeal which eventually had wonderful results. I shared my same miraculous results with her, sharing the miracles that God had performed in my life.
Soon she had to leave the hospitality room for her doctor's appointment for a checkup. We hugged and remarked together that there are no chance encounters, that we both knew that our meeting was arranged by Our Loving Father to enhance the faith that Steve and I already had relating to his tests, the findings and the treatments.
That particular day we needed to hear the testimonies of the bundle of joy to enhance our faith relating to our current situation. God arranged my wearing the green blouse that attracted her attention on the brief meeting in the Sky Walk. Then He led the three of us to the same hospitality room in the same building, of which there are many, many similar rooms in the medical complex. She took a seat near us before she noticed me sitting there in my green blouse that she had previously admired, after which the sharing of testimonies began. Her joy was contagious in the midst of serious events in the lives of all the people in the room, on the Sky Walk and in the huge medical complex.
She brought to mind the scripture that says, "The joy of the Lord is my strength." Steve and I left that hospitality room with stronger joy and stronger faith. I call it an infusion of faith and joy. The sharing of testimonies does that, infuses new faith and joy into us.
Steve completed the next tests with a great attitude after the infusion from the bundle of joy. Those chance encounters are like kisses from Our Loving Father. It amazes me how He arranges them, but I'll welcome them every time,.
I'm still thanking Him for delivering joy to us from an 80 year old Bundle of Joy. She's probably continuing her ministry of distributing joy to other people in her small Texas town and wherever she travels. She told me that she was a cheerleader in high school and college. She's a cheerleader for God now. Her current team always wins. I'm glad we're on the same team.
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